Tennis-net-stretching device



' y 9: 9- 6. L.-LANE 1,763,615

WITNESSES TENNIS NET STRETCHING DEVICE Filed Sept. l4, 1928 Patented July 1, 1930 A I .UNITEDESTATES GEORGE L. LANE, or aamvroanfrnunsvnvania I 'rnnms-nnm-srnnronine DEVICE l Application filed September 14, 1928? "Serial No. 3065082. 7

This invention relates to devices useful in connection with tennis equipment to support and maintain the nets under lengthwise tension for assurance against sagging. Generally speaking, my present device is similar in construction and operation to that shown and'described in U. S. Patent No. 1,632,553 granted me under date of June 14:, 1927, wherein a slide, vertically adjustable on the net post for the purposes of initially taking up the slack of the net, carries toggle means whereby the suspension rope for the net may be subsequently placed under the required tension.

The patented structure suprais however designed for use with metallic posts that are removable from sockets sunken into the ground, and it is to be particularly observed that the slide carrying the toggle means is non-detachably engaged with the post and consequently removable only when the latter is withdrawn from the ground socket. The arrangement does not therefore lend, itself very well to embodiment with permanently fixed posts, particularly posts of wood; and it is with a view towardovercoming this disadvantage that the present invention is directed. In other words, I aim to provide a net stretching device which is applicable to permanently fixed posts and wherein the slide that carries the net tensioning means is detachable from the post.

Further objects and attendant advantages will be manifest from the detailed description following when considered with the drawings, wherein Fig. I is a perspective view of a tennis net stretching device conveniently embodying my invention; and,

Fig. II is a detail sectional View, taken as indicated by the arrows IIII in Fig. I.

With more specific reference to the illustrations, my improvedtennis net stretching device comprises a guide or attaching member in the form of a plate 10 which is se- 4 cured, by means of screws 11, to the outer face of one of the supporting posts P between which the net is spanned. As shown,

the guide plate 10 aifords a counter-recessed longitudinal groove 12 for vertical guidance of a laterally projecting slide member 13 which carries a pin 14 in an embossment 15 at its lower end, said pin beingadapted for selective registry with apertures 16, arranged asa vertical series medially of'saidguide plate. A helical compression spring 17 ll) concealed in the hollowof the embossment '15 tends to yieldingly maintain the-pin; 14 in the selected aperture 16; and t'of'en ablemanipulation incidental 'to positional shifting of the slide member13, said-pinis provided at its outer end with a finger knob 18. Am integrally formed laterally project ing arm 19 at the top of the slide member 13. I i

hasits outer end flattenedas at 20 for fulcrum attachmentat 21 of an actuatinglever 1 crum 21, is a yoke link 24, said-link having an eye 25 projecting: from its arch top for attachment of the upper net rope R. A

rounded metallic protective cap piece 26 is I fastened by screws 27; to the top of the post 1 P1, provides a groove 28 within which the rope: R118 free torreevewhenthe tennis net is' tightened in the manner hereinafter explaine I .In the use of my invention, the lever handle 22-is swun upward about its fulcrum 21, and while in tnis position, the pin 14 is with drawn against the influence of the spring 17 and the slidemember 13thereupon moved downward in the guide slot 12 of the plate 10- until the net is fairly taut; The'pin 1 1 is thereupon released to engage the nearest hole 16 in the plate 10 to lock the slide 13, and the lever handle 22 finally depressed'to the position illustrated with attendant placement of the rope R under tension, ina manner quite obvious from Fig. I. Incidental to the described action, the yoke link 24 is moved as shown to an angular position inp comes slack from time to time as a consequence of being continuously subjected to longitudinal strain, the above described operation is simply repeated as often as required. I 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In means for stretching a tennis net, the combination of a grooved base with a series of apertures therein, a slide afforded guidance in said base having a projecting arm and associated embossment, retractable w spring-influenced locking means in said embossment selectively engage'able in any one of the series of base apertures, and means fulcrumed to the outer end of the projecting arm for attachment of the tennis net rope whereby said net may be tensioned.

,2. In means for stretching a tennis net, the combination of a counter-recessed grooved base with a series of medially located apertures therein, a slide movable in the grooved base having a projecting arm and associated hollow portion, a retractable spring-influenced locking member mounted in. said hollow portion and selectively engageable in any one of the series of base apertures, and net stretching means pivoted to the outer end of the projecting arm aforesaid for attachment of the tennis net upper rope.

- 3. In means for stretching a tennis net,

the combination of a counter-recessed longitudinally-grooved base with a series of medially located apertures therein, a slide afforded Vertical guidance in the grooved base, said slide embodying a laterally projecting arm and a paralleling hollow portion, a retractible spring-influenced pin axially movable in the hollow portion for selective engagement in any one of the series of medially-located base apertures, and

means fulcrumed'to the outer end of the projecting arm for attachment of the tennis net upper rope.

4. In means for stretching a tennis net, the combination of a counter-recessed longivtudinally-grooved base with a series of medially located apertures therein, a slide afforded vertical guidance in the grooved base, said slide embodying a laterally projecting arm and a paralleling hollow pore tion, a retractable spring-influenced pin axially movable in the hollow portion for selective engagement in any one of the se ries of medially located base apertures, a protective cap for securement to an associated supporting postconstituting a guide for the net rope over the top of said post, and means fulcrumed to the outer end of the projecting arm whereby the tennis net may be desirably tensioned.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Ardmore, Pa., this 6 day of Sept, 1928.

' GEORGE L. LANE. 

